# Book I: The Two Lads explained — The Black Arrow

> Chapter companion for The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

Dick Shelton, a young man under the guardianship of Sir Daniel Brackley, is awakened by an alarm bell at Tunstall Moat House. He learns that Sir Daniel is away and that the house is under threat from the 'Black Arrow' fellowship. Dick is tasked with escorting a young boy named Matcham to safety, but their journey is fraught with danger as they cross the fen and encounter a leper. Dick begins to question the circumstances of his father's death, suspecting Sir Daniel's involvement.

## Themes in this chapter

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Dick's loyalty to Sir Daniel is tested as he begins to suspect his guardian's role in his father's death. The Black Arrow fellowship represents a betrayal of the established order.

### Identity and Disguise

Matcham is revealed to be Joanna Sedley in disguise, setting up a central theme of hidden identities and deception.

## Character check-ins

### Dick Shelton

The protagonist, a young man loyal to Sir Daniel but beginning to suspect foul play in his father's death.

### Matcham

A young boy entrusted to Dick's care, later revealed to be Joanna Sedley in disguise.

### Sir Daniel Brackley

Dick's guardian and a powerful lord, whose actions are increasingly suspect.

### Bennet Hatch

Sir Daniel's loyal retainer, who gives Dick orders and later questions him about his father.

### Ellis Duckworth

The leader of the Black Arrow fellowship, an outlaw seeking revenge against Sir Daniel.

## Key lines

> The bell was still ringing, and the whole house was alive with the stir of men. Dick, who was but a lad, had been awakened by the sound, and had lain for some time listening to the noise.

Dick, a young boy, was woken by the alarm bell and lay in bed listening to the commotion in the house.

_Introduces the urgency and chaos of the situation._

> I am not afeard of the Black Arrow, but I am afeard of the man who shoots it.

I'm not scared of the arrow itself, but of the person who fires it.

_Highlights the fear and mystery surrounding the Black Arrow fellowship._

> It was a strange thing, thought Dick, that his father should have died so suddenly, and that Sir Daniel should have come into his lands so quickly.

Dick found it odd that his father died so abruptly and that Sir Daniel inherited his property so fast.

_Foreshadows Dick's growing suspicion about his father's death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_arrow_se/chapters/book-i-the-two-lads
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_arrow_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_arrow_se/chapters